ATI Capstone Mental Health Complete
Review 2026 | High-Yield Content
,A nurse in an acute care facility is assisting with the admission of Ask the partner to talk about his difficulties in caring for the client.
an older adult client who has late stage Alzheimer's disease. The
nurse notes that the client's partner appears exhausted. He states The first action the nurse should take, using the nursing process
that he is finding it more and more difficult to care for his partner. priority framework, is to collect data regarding the partner's ability
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? to take care of the client.
Decrease in urge to smoke
A nurse is collecting data from a client who is taking bupropion.
Which of the following findings indicates the medications is effec-
Bupropion is an antidepressant that is also used for smoking
tive?
cessation.
A nurse is evaluating the outcome for a client who has depression "I just don't feel like eating because I never like to eat alone."
following the death of his wife 3 months ago. Which of the following
client statements indicates a need for further intervention? At risk for malnutrition and injury.
A nurse in a long-term care setting is caring for a client who Confabulation
has Alzheimer's disease. The client states, "I just came back
from a hard day's work in my office." The nurse should identify Confabulation is the creation of information which is untrue to fill
this statement is an example of which of the following coping in gaps in memory and to protect self-esteem in clients who have
mechanisms? dementia.
Use active listening when with the client.
A nurse is planning care for a new client. Which of the following
The nurse should use active listening to establish presence with
actions should the nurse plan to take in order to use the technique
the client. presence involves eye contact, body language, voice
of presence to establish the nurse- client relationship?
tone, listening, and reflection to convay openness and under-
standing.
Rationalization
A nurse is assessing a client in the emergency department who
drank alcohol while taking disulfiram. The client states, "The nurse
told me not to drink when taking the medication. I am just a social The client is demonstrating rationalization when he creates rea-
sonable and acceptable explanations for unacceptable behavior.
drinker. I didn't realize that having just one drink with my friends
The client is using rationalization asa defense mechanisms to
would cause such a problem." Which of the following defense
justify why he had just one drink. Even though the nurse told him
mechanisms is the client demonstrating?
not to drink alcohol.
A client asks when family members will be arriving after visiting 1
hr earlier.
Delirium is characterized by a change in cognition that occurs over
A nurse is caring for a group of older adult clients. Which of the a short period of time. It always results from secondary physi-
following client findings indicates delirium? ological condition, ( infection, surgery, prolonged hospitalization,
hypoxia, fever, medication) and is a transient disorder. Although
delirium can occur at any age, it is more common in older adults.
It frequently progresses in the evening hours and is sometimes
called "sundown syndrome"
Amenorrhea
A nurse is collecting data from a client newly admitted for anorexia
nervousa. Which of the following findings should the nurse ex-
The nurse should expect the client to report amenorrhea due to
pect?
low body weight.
The client paces in the hallway during the day and most of the
night.
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has bipolar disorder When using Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the nurse determines
with main. Which of the following findings is the nurse's priority? that the priority findings is the client's physiological need for rest
and food. Nonstop activity is an emergency situation for a client
who has mania, since the client might go for long periods without
eating or sleep.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) monitor.
The provider will monitor the client's brainwave patterns during the
procedure.
- Oxygen saturation monitor
messages.downloaded_by
, The client requires continuous oxygen saturation monitoring be-
cause she will receive a short-acting barbiturate to induce sleep
A nurse is preparing to assist with the care of a client of a client and a muscle-paralyzing agent to prevent muscle distress and
who is undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Which of the injury.
following pieces of equipment should the nurse set up in the room
prior to the treatment? SATA -Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor.
The provider will monitor the client's cardiac response during the
procedure.
"Can you tell me the reason you get upset each time I go to the
mall?"
A nurse is assisting with a family therapy session for parents and
2 school-age children. Which of the following statements should
This is an expel of effective and healthy communication. Healthy
the nurse recognize as an example of effective communication
communication expresses clear, understandable messages be-
among family members?
tween family members. Each family member is encourage to ex-
press his or her feelings and thoughts.
Sleep as much as possible.
A n urse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is 2 days post-
partum and has a history of postpartum depression. Which of the The nurse should encourage the client to sleep as much as she
following instructions should the nurse include? can during the next few weeks. Sleep deprivation can increase the
risk for postpartum depression.
"I will contact my provider if I have difficulty urinating"
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a female client who is pre- Chlorpromazine is a first-generation, or typical, antipsychotic
scribed chlorpromazine. Which of the following statements by the medication prescribed for schizophrenia. The client should monitor
client indicates an understanding of the teaching? for anticholinergic adverse effects, such as dry mouth and urinary
retention. Difficulty urinating could be a sign of urinary retention
and should be reported to the provider for further evaluation.
Impulsivity
A nurse is collecting data from a client following a recent suicide
attempt. Which of the following findings in the client's history A client who has impulsivity is at risk for suicide because he is
places him at the greatest risk for another suicide attempt? more likely to take an action quickly without thinking about the
consequences.
Undoing
A nurse is caring for client who escapes anxiety - causing thoughts
by ignoring their existence. The nurse should recognize this be- The nurse correctly identifies this as an example of denial which
havior as which of the following defense mechanisms? is escaping unpleasant or anxiety - causing thoughts or feelings
by ignoring their existence.
" You seem worried. Are you concerned someone may see you
without your teeth?"
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is scheduled for
surgery. The client becomes upset when the nurse asks her to The nurse uses two therapeutic communication tools in this re-
remove her dentures prior to the surgery. Which of the following is
sponse. One is empathy, which is shown by focusing on the client's
a therapeutic response by the nurse?
feelings. The other is validation/clarification, in which the nurse
seeks to validate the reason for the client's feelings.
"What are the voices telling you to do?"
A nurse is talking with a client who has schizophrenia. Suddenly
the client states, "Im tightened. Do you hear that? The voices are This statement recognizes the risk involved with a command hal-
telling me to do terrible things." Which of the following responses lucination an asks there client directly about the hallucination. This
by the nurse is appropriate ? is a therapeutic approach to communicating with a client who is
experiencing a hallucination.
Significant change in weight
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a major depressive
disorder (MDD). Which of the following findings should the nurse
A signifiant change in weight, either loss or gain, is an expected
expect?
finding of MDD.
"We will need to check your lithium levels in the next 3 to 5 days."
Lithium is prescribed to treat bipolar disorder. The medications has
messages.downloaded_by
Review 2026 | High-Yield Content
,A nurse in an acute care facility is assisting with the admission of Ask the partner to talk about his difficulties in caring for the client.
an older adult client who has late stage Alzheimer's disease. The
nurse notes that the client's partner appears exhausted. He states The first action the nurse should take, using the nursing process
that he is finding it more and more difficult to care for his partner. priority framework, is to collect data regarding the partner's ability
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? to take care of the client.
Decrease in urge to smoke
A nurse is collecting data from a client who is taking bupropion.
Which of the following findings indicates the medications is effec-
Bupropion is an antidepressant that is also used for smoking
tive?
cessation.
A nurse is evaluating the outcome for a client who has depression "I just don't feel like eating because I never like to eat alone."
following the death of his wife 3 months ago. Which of the following
client statements indicates a need for further intervention? At risk for malnutrition and injury.
A nurse in a long-term care setting is caring for a client who Confabulation
has Alzheimer's disease. The client states, "I just came back
from a hard day's work in my office." The nurse should identify Confabulation is the creation of information which is untrue to fill
this statement is an example of which of the following coping in gaps in memory and to protect self-esteem in clients who have
mechanisms? dementia.
Use active listening when with the client.
A nurse is planning care for a new client. Which of the following
The nurse should use active listening to establish presence with
actions should the nurse plan to take in order to use the technique
the client. presence involves eye contact, body language, voice
of presence to establish the nurse- client relationship?
tone, listening, and reflection to convay openness and under-
standing.
Rationalization
A nurse is assessing a client in the emergency department who
drank alcohol while taking disulfiram. The client states, "The nurse
told me not to drink when taking the medication. I am just a social The client is demonstrating rationalization when he creates rea-
sonable and acceptable explanations for unacceptable behavior.
drinker. I didn't realize that having just one drink with my friends
The client is using rationalization asa defense mechanisms to
would cause such a problem." Which of the following defense
justify why he had just one drink. Even though the nurse told him
mechanisms is the client demonstrating?
not to drink alcohol.
A client asks when family members will be arriving after visiting 1
hr earlier.
Delirium is characterized by a change in cognition that occurs over
A nurse is caring for a group of older adult clients. Which of the a short period of time. It always results from secondary physi-
following client findings indicates delirium? ological condition, ( infection, surgery, prolonged hospitalization,
hypoxia, fever, medication) and is a transient disorder. Although
delirium can occur at any age, it is more common in older adults.
It frequently progresses in the evening hours and is sometimes
called "sundown syndrome"
Amenorrhea
A nurse is collecting data from a client newly admitted for anorexia
nervousa. Which of the following findings should the nurse ex-
The nurse should expect the client to report amenorrhea due to
pect?
low body weight.
The client paces in the hallway during the day and most of the
night.
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has bipolar disorder When using Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the nurse determines
with main. Which of the following findings is the nurse's priority? that the priority findings is the client's physiological need for rest
and food. Nonstop activity is an emergency situation for a client
who has mania, since the client might go for long periods without
eating or sleep.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) monitor.
The provider will monitor the client's brainwave patterns during the
procedure.
- Oxygen saturation monitor
messages.downloaded_by
, The client requires continuous oxygen saturation monitoring be-
cause she will receive a short-acting barbiturate to induce sleep
A nurse is preparing to assist with the care of a client of a client and a muscle-paralyzing agent to prevent muscle distress and
who is undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Which of the injury.
following pieces of equipment should the nurse set up in the room
prior to the treatment? SATA -Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor.
The provider will monitor the client's cardiac response during the
procedure.
"Can you tell me the reason you get upset each time I go to the
mall?"
A nurse is assisting with a family therapy session for parents and
2 school-age children. Which of the following statements should
This is an expel of effective and healthy communication. Healthy
the nurse recognize as an example of effective communication
communication expresses clear, understandable messages be-
among family members?
tween family members. Each family member is encourage to ex-
press his or her feelings and thoughts.
Sleep as much as possible.
A n urse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is 2 days post-
partum and has a history of postpartum depression. Which of the The nurse should encourage the client to sleep as much as she
following instructions should the nurse include? can during the next few weeks. Sleep deprivation can increase the
risk for postpartum depression.
"I will contact my provider if I have difficulty urinating"
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a female client who is pre- Chlorpromazine is a first-generation, or typical, antipsychotic
scribed chlorpromazine. Which of the following statements by the medication prescribed for schizophrenia. The client should monitor
client indicates an understanding of the teaching? for anticholinergic adverse effects, such as dry mouth and urinary
retention. Difficulty urinating could be a sign of urinary retention
and should be reported to the provider for further evaluation.
Impulsivity
A nurse is collecting data from a client following a recent suicide
attempt. Which of the following findings in the client's history A client who has impulsivity is at risk for suicide because he is
places him at the greatest risk for another suicide attempt? more likely to take an action quickly without thinking about the
consequences.
Undoing
A nurse is caring for client who escapes anxiety - causing thoughts
by ignoring their existence. The nurse should recognize this be- The nurse correctly identifies this as an example of denial which
havior as which of the following defense mechanisms? is escaping unpleasant or anxiety - causing thoughts or feelings
by ignoring their existence.
" You seem worried. Are you concerned someone may see you
without your teeth?"
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is scheduled for
surgery. The client becomes upset when the nurse asks her to The nurse uses two therapeutic communication tools in this re-
remove her dentures prior to the surgery. Which of the following is
sponse. One is empathy, which is shown by focusing on the client's
a therapeutic response by the nurse?
feelings. The other is validation/clarification, in which the nurse
seeks to validate the reason for the client's feelings.
"What are the voices telling you to do?"
A nurse is talking with a client who has schizophrenia. Suddenly
the client states, "Im tightened. Do you hear that? The voices are This statement recognizes the risk involved with a command hal-
telling me to do terrible things." Which of the following responses lucination an asks there client directly about the hallucination. This
by the nurse is appropriate ? is a therapeutic approach to communicating with a client who is
experiencing a hallucination.
Significant change in weight
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a major depressive
disorder (MDD). Which of the following findings should the nurse
A signifiant change in weight, either loss or gain, is an expected
expect?
finding of MDD.
"We will need to check your lithium levels in the next 3 to 5 days."
Lithium is prescribed to treat bipolar disorder. The medications has
messages.downloaded_by
